Apparatus for making illuminating gas



Dec: 1924. 1,519,523

D. J. YOUNG APPARATUS FOR MAKING ILLUMINATING GAS Filed Jan. 31, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P'Ig42 INVENTOR Dan iei JI/bzzny Dec. 3924- 1,519,523

D. J. YOUNG APPARATUS FOR MAKING ILLUMINATING GAS Filed Jan. 51, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVENTOR.

Daniel J Yfiazzy Patented Dec, 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL J'. YOUNG, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO YOUNG-WHIT'WELL GAS PROCESS COMPANY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ILLUMINATING GAS.

Application filed January 31,1921;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce'and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for-Making Illuminating Gas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating gas.

The object of my invention is to provide both a process and the means for carrying it out, by means of which illuminating gas may be successfully and economically manufactured from any fuel, solid, liquid, or gaseous, which shall consist in whole or in part of carbon, chemically combined or uncombined.

It is thus an object of my invention to make useof fuels of a grade from which it has not heretofore been found commercially practicable to make illuminating gas in a commercial way.

Another object of my invention is to provide a process and an apparatus which are adapted to the manufacture of an illuminating gas by the complete gasification of the fuel, thus converting practically all of the carbon and hydrogen contents of the fuel into gas, so that the coke which forms a byproduct of the usual gas manufacturing process, is converted into gas.

Another object of my invention is to provide a process which will produce a satisfactory illuminating gas without necessitating reliance upon oil fuels for the enrichment thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a process wherein the complete gasification of the fuel may be secured without reguiring the mechanical transfer of the fuel rom one container to another, that is, within the generator in which it is first deposited.

Another object of my invention is to cause the various steps of the process employed to take place in immediate succession and under such conditions that heat wastes are reduced to a minimum, thus adding to the efliciency Serial No. 441,369.

of the process and to reduce the percentage of heat losses.

Other objects of my invention will be disclosed by a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which drawings I have shown in a' simple and somewhat diagrammatic manner, an apparatus which embodies my invention.

The principles embodied in my invention and the manner of carrying it out will be set forth in the following description and the particular features and steps which I deem to be new and upon which I desire to securepatent protection will be defined by the claims which terminate this specification.

Figure 1 shows, insectional elevation, a simple type of apparatus, which may be employed in carrying out my invention.

Figure 2 shows in partial vertical section a means which may be employed for the introduction of powdered or finely divided fuel during the gas making process.

Figure 3 shows in plan a diagram of an arrangement of generators and superheaters somewhat different from that of Figure 1 .in which the same principles of operatio are employed.

One of the features of my invention consists in introducing fuel into one part of the system in such manner as to be acted upon to distil the more volatile constituents thereof and add them to the gas and to convert the remainder into coke, or an analogous product, which is deposited upon an incandescent fuel bed within a generator, thereby replenishing this fuel bed which, in one part of the process and during a reverse flow of the gases, is consumed in making water gas, whereby the building up ancl replenishment of the fuel bed at one time and point in the system is coincident with the consumption of a like bed at another point in the system and may be made to equal the consumption when reversely operated.

The apparatus required in carrying out my process comprises a plurallty of retorts or generators, a gas superheater, or superheaters, means for introducing fuel in a finely divided form into said generators in such manner as to be actedfupon by the superheated gases, and such apparatus as is necessary to secure the desired connection of the parts and control of the flow of gases therethrough, and to vary such flow as might be desirable or necessary.

WVhile the number of gas generators employed may be greater, 1 have illustrated my invention in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings and will first describe it, as employing two generators and one superheater, it beingunderstood that the number of each may be increased as deemed desirable. The generators 1 and 10 are alike in construction and each, basically, consists of a water gas generator. Their physical construction may be anything found suitable. Each has a grate 11, or an equivalent means for supporting the fuel bed 12 and means for introducing steam and air to the bottom or top of the fuel bed when blasting and for withdrawing the gas from the same point when the generator atthe other end of the system is being blasted, that is, when the direction of flow of gases is reversed.

Locatedcontiguous to and suitably connected with each of these generators is the gas super-heater. In the form illustrated this consists of a retort-like chamber 2 having walls of refractory material, filled with a checker work 23 of brick or like bodies, so placed or constructed as to produce interstices through which gas may flow. This constitutes a heat transferring or interchanging device which absorbs heat during one part of the cycle of operations and gives ofi heat at another part of the cycle. Any suitably constructed device which properly performs this function may be employed, that shown being considered merely as being typical of what is required, and illustrative of a preferred construction thereof.

The checker work or brick filling 23 is supported upon a fire brick arch 20, beneath which is a chamber 21 provided with two openings 24 and 25, operative interchangeably as either outlet orinlet, with conduits or pipes by which communication may be established with either the top or bottom parts of the respective generators 1 and 10.

This chamber 21 also has a valve controlled inlet 22, for the admission of air during the time when the superheater is being heated. At its upper end the superheater has a stack or discharge opening 26, controlled by a cover 27 which is opened during the heating up of the superheater, and thereafter as may be required by the process of working or may be desired. 'The upper end of the superheater also has openings con nected by pipes or conduits 51 and 52 which form parts of the gas controlling system between the superheater and the gas generators.

Each of the generators, 1 and 10, is provided with four openings, two at the bottom of the fuel bed, as 3 and 30 for the generator 10 and 33 and 35 for the generator 1, and two above the fuel bed, as the openings 31, 32, for generator 10 and 34 and 36 for generator 1. The lower opening at one side of each generator is connected with one of the lower openings of the superheater by a pipe or conduit, as 5 and 50, and the upper openings of generator and superheater connected by pipes, as 51 and 52. Each of these connecting pipes has two valves therein as the valves 40 to 47 inclusive and the top and bottom connecting pipes of each set are connected between these valves, by vertical pipes 4 and 4. The openings 3 and 35 at the bottom of the generators, or equivalent openings, are used for the supply of air and steam to the generators, as may be required in carrying out the gas making process. The upper openings 32 and 36, are intended for drawing ofl' gas as may possibly be desired or required by special circumstances, or may be used for introducing a blast of air or steam. These would however, not be required during the normal operation of my device when carrying out the novel process which is the subject of the present invention. It will however, perm-it drawing oil gas, if this be desired for any reason, or 1 will permit blasting down or a down run through the generator if desired.

The above is merely a typical and preferred construction whereby the desired result, namely to secure connection from either the top or bottom of the superheater to either the top or bottom of the generators whereby the flow of gas may be directed and reversed as desired. Any other arrangement and construction which satisfactorily secures he desired control may be substituted there- I provide means at the top of each generator, whereby a finely divided fuel may be introduced when desired. Such fuel may be oil, which if used would preferably be sprayed intothe generator chamber, or it may be coal, sawdust Or any finely divided solid fuel. The extent to which the division of this fuel is carried may, under some conditions, be considerably varied. One reason for reducing the fuel to small sized particles is to facilitate quick carbonization and to facilitate the mechanical handling and introduction thereof.

The apparatus employed for feeding this fuel may vary widely. The apparatus illustrated in detail in Figure 2 is given merely as illustrative of one apparatus which may be used, without however, any thought of limiting the invention to the use of this apparatus. This device is constructed and operated as follows.

Mounted above the generator is a fuel holding hopper or bin 7, having a feed or delivery pipe 7 O which extends through the opening in the dome or cover of the generator. lidably mounted in this pipe 70 is a pipe 60 which has teeth or equivalent openings 61 at one side forming a rack, with which rack meshes a pinion 71 carried by the enclosing pipe 70. By turning pinion 71 the pipe 60 may be raised and lowered.

Within ipe 60 is a shaft 8 carrying a helical feeding vane or screw 80. A cross bar 62 carried by or secured to the pipe 60 has a bearing for the lower end of the shaft 8. Secured to the lower end of the shaft is a collar 81 just above bar 62 and a saucer shaped fuel distributing cup 82 below bar 62. Means for turning shaft 8 with its feed screw 80 and fuel distributing cup 82, are

I provided. The means illustrated consists of bevel gears 83 and 84 and a power driven shaft 85. Any suitable means for turning shaft 8 may be employed. I

As the coal, or whatever other fuel used is fed down by the feed screw, it is discharged over the edge of the distributing cup 82. .If this cup be rotated at sufficient speed the fuel may be caused to impinge upon the heated to of the generator. It falls through the super eated gas and being of fine size, its volatile contents are extracted and added as gas to the gas received from the super- 1 sumedv in heating the superheater and making water gas when the run is completed and the flow of gas reversed.

When this fuel supplying means is not being used the end thereof which is within the generator may be withdrawn from the action of the intense heat by raising the tube 60 and its contents through turning of the pinion 71. This tends to preserve and lengthen the life of these parts.

The operation of the device shown in Figure 1 is as follows: Both generators 1 and 10 are charged with coke, coal, or an equivalent fuel, and this is ignited. An air blastis applied up through the fuel and the gases generated, by suitable control of the connections, is delivered to the, bottom of the superheater 2, up therein and out through the opening 26. Air in sufiicient quantity to insure complete combustion of this gas, is introduced at the bottom of the superheater, as through the opening 22. In this way the superheater is highly heated and heat is stored therein to be later imparted to the water gas which is received from one of the generators to thereby superheat this gas so that it may be more effective as a medium for extracting the volatile contents of the added fuel.

The regulation of theair during this primary blasting step, shall be such that partial combustion only shall occur in the generators; thus providing at the chamber 21 at the base of the superheater, sufiicient unconsumed gases so that uponthe introduction at this point of additional air, the combustion maybe completed and the superheater thereby highly heated as the gases pass up through the checker work 23 before discharge through the opening 26.

When the apparatus has thus been highly heated, the air supply to the generators is cut off and steam is substituted in one, say in generator 10. The valves are adjusted to deliver the water gas which is thus formed in the generator 10, from this. generator to the bottom of the superheater. This water gas in passing through the highly heated checker work 23, absorbs heat therefrom and becomes superheated. It is then conveyed across and discharged into the top of the other generator 1 and down "through the fuel bed therein.

At the same time finely divided fuel, as coal, sawdust, oil, or any other carbonaceous or hydrocarbonaceous fuel, is discharged into the top of the generator 1, as through apparatus such as that indicated at 6 and hereinbefore described. This fuel being finely divided and bein discharged directly into the highly super ieated as, is carbonized,

the volatile constituents t iereof being givenoff and added to the gas.

This gas in passing down through the incandescent fuel bed may take up a small amount of carbon, as for instance to reduce any G0,. which may be present to CO. Also there will be a certain amount of cracking of the volatile gas extracted from the newly added fuel. The fixed carbon content of the freshly introduced fuel is deposited upon or within the fuel bed of the generator 1, in the form of coke, thus building it up.

This operating condition is maintained until the heat stored in the superheater has been reduced by transfer to the gas passing therethrough, until the temperature. of the discharged gas reaches a desirable minimum. The controlling devices are then shifted to cut off the supply of fuel to the top of the generators and to blast with air through one or both generators. The air supply is limited to produce a high percentage of unconsumed gas which is delivered from said generator or generators to the base of the superheater, where it is supplied with enough air to complete combustion. This condition is continued until the superheater is sufficiently heated; when the air supply is cut off from said generator or generators and the superheater and steam supplied to one generator and fine fuel to the top of the other generator, the gas being passed from the first generator up through the superheater and then down through the other generator.

It may also be desirable to blast only one generator and superheater and at the time this is being done introduce fuel into the other generator, which fuel will be carbonized by the heat of the fuel bed and fire brick setting and gas may be taken off either at top or bottom of the eneraton.

In the plant diagrammatically shown in Figure 3 is shown three superheaters A A and A and three generators, B B and B together with suitable connections similar to those shown in Figure 1, with like added connectionsbetween the superheaters whereby any pair may be connected in series. It is evident that instead of three sets each consisting of a generator and a superheater as shown, a larger number of such sets may be employed.

The standard method of operation of this plant would be to blast one generator with air to form a producer gas which is used to heat its particular superheater while one of the other generators is being blasted with steam to form water gas which is being passed through the two other superheaters and the third generator, into which last generator the finely divided fuel is being discharged. After the proper period of operation with parts so connected, the connections are shifted so that the generator which was before being blasted with steam to make water gas is supplied with air and the resulting gas is used to superheat its superheater while the generator which was before being blasted with air is supplied with steam to make water gas and this is passed through the other two superheaters to the third generator.

In this type of plant the generators would, successively and in rotation be used, first, for blasting with air to form producer gas which is used to heat its superheater, then for blasting with steam to form water gas which is superheated by passing through .one superheater which in the previous step was being heated up, and then optionally through another superheater which was heated by the second preceding step, or through a bypass directly to the generator to which the finely divided fuel is being added, and third go rleceive the superheated gas and the added Under special circumstances and conditions modifications of this exact order of operations may be made. the walls of one of the generators maintain high enough temperature to warrant it, after the suppl of gas from the superheater has been cut off: the fuel supply may be continued for a time. Also, under these conditions, gas of a high heating capacity may be drawn off from a generator so operated, without passing it through the last fuel bed. Such a gas could be obtained which contained no water gas.

For instance. if

The gases discharged from the stacks, as that consumed in heating the superheaters, and the final aseous product, may be employed under! oilers or in any other manner whereby its sensible heat may be usefully employed.

The process and apparatus described will deliver a gas which 1s in effect a water gas to which has been added the volatile contents of an added fuel and is therefore substantially free ofthe inert nitrogen which is present in all gas where air is used for blasting the fuel at the time of securing the gas. The gas produced by this process consists essentially of CO, H and the higher hydrocarbons, of which ethylene or its homologues are examples. It contains practically no free nitrogen. In this respect it differs radically from producer gas and it is this difference which is intended to be herein defined by the term illuminating gas, when it is used to distinguish the product resulting from my process.

The term coke as herein used is not intended to be limited to that product which results from the distillation of a grade of coal which will coalesce under heat, but in a broader sense to define the solid product remaining from the carbonization or distillation of any suitable fuel.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A gas making apparatus comprising a plurality of generators, gas superheating means, means for connecting said generators and superheater in series in the circulation vwith the superheater between generators and with the circulation up'in the first generator and down in the last generator of the series, means for reversing the direction of the circulation and means for introducing fuel into the gas after it leaves the superheater and beforepassing down into the fuel bed in the generator which followsthe superheater in the series. y

2. A gas making apparatus comprising a plurality of generators and a heat interchanger, means for delivering gas from each generator to the heat interchanger, means for supplying air to the heat interchanger to burn the gas therein when desired to thereby store heat in said heat interchanger, means for discharging said burnt gases outside the gas making system, means for passing unburnt gas from one generator through said heat interchanger to thereby superheat it and to'then pass it downward through the fuel bed of another generator, means for supplying a finely divided fuel containing volatile constituents to the superheated gas drawn from the heat interchanger before passing the volatile constituents through said fuel bed, whereby the volatileconstituents are gasified and added to the gas and the non-volatile products are added to the fuel bed, and means whereby these steps may be carried out in a reverse direction each of said connections, anda conduit formthrough the system. ing-a cross connection between that part of 3. gas making apparatus comprising said top and bottom conduits between the 10 two generators, and a gas superheater, gas valves thereof. 5 conduits connecting the top and the bottom Signed at Tacoma, Pierce County, Washof-the superheater with the like parts of ington, this 24th day of January, 1921. each generator, two controlling valves in DANIEL J. YOUNG. 

